When Mandy woke up, the house was very quiet.
Vinnie was already awake and eating breakfast.
Mom was in the kitchen reading the newspaper.
Mandy grabbed a banana.
"Where's Dad?" she asked.
"He had a business meeting," said Mom.
"He went to the city early this morning."
Mandy barely heard what Mom was saying.
All she could think about was the attic.
If Dad was out, then it was empty!
Mandy looked over at Vinnie.
He was looking back at her, grinning.
"Let's go!" he whispered.
A minute later the two kids ran up the stairs.
Vinnie pulled the photo album from its hiding spot.
They flipped toward the end and noticed there were just two pages left.
But neither one said anything about it.
"There he is!"
Mandy spotted the old man in the photo.
He stood in front of a building with three large, glowing gates.
Vinnie and Mandy stared at the photo.
Seconds later they tumbled into the dark tunnel.
Mandy and Vinnie landed on their backs.
They lay on the floor of a small room.
Mandy sat up and then looked at Vinnie.
"Does this floor feel warm?" she asked.
"Yes," said Vinnie.
He sat up too.
"I hope there isn't a fire," said Mandy.
She leaped to her feet and looked around.
Suddenly the door opened, and a boy entered the room.
He jumped back when he saw Mandy and Vinnie.
"Who are you?" the boy demanded.
"What are you doing here?"
"Uh, well, I, uh…" stuttered Vinnie.
"Uh . . . I'm Mandy, and this is my brother, Vinnie," said Mandy.
"The floor is very warm!" she added.
"Is . . . is your house on fire?"
The boy stared at Mandy for a moment, confused.
Then he burst out laughing.
"My home is not on fire!
Our floors are heated!"
He shook his head, still laughing.
"Don't you have heated floors in your house?"
Mandy blushed and shook her head.
She felt silly for saying something.
"Follow me, and I will show you how it works," the boy continued.
"My name is Gildong, by the way."
He led them to the kitchen.
"Heat from the stove warms stones under the floor," he explained.
"That is how the floor stays hot."
"Wow," said Vinnie.
"That's cool!" Mandy added.
"I mean warm," she joked.
"Come," Gildong said.
They followed him to the porch.
He reached for a bamboo basket and began wrapping it in cloth.
"I have an important errand," he explained.
"I must bring these bowls to a nobleman's house.
His family is having a special ceremony tonight.
Would you like to come with me?"
"Yes!" cried Vinnie and Mandy together.